"We knew what we were getting into when we came to the park,"
Smith said, referring to the pitching matchup. "We knew what it
was going to be like and it lived up to its billing."

Jimenez looked forward to facing Lincecum but didn't worry about
being compared to the 2008 NL Cy Young Award winner.

"I just leave that to everybody else," Jimenez said. "I'm not
thinking about if I deserve to be in Lincecum's league. I know
he's one of the greatest pitchers."

Held hitless by Lincecum for 5 1-3 innings, the Rockies rallied
to move three games ahead of San Francisco in the NL wild-card
race. Jimenez (12-9) won his sixth straight decision for
Colorado, which has taken two of three in a four-games series
that concludes Monday night at Coors Field.

Lincecum (12-4) was working on a no-hit bid in the sixth when
Todd Helton singled off the glove of shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Brad Hawpe walked with two outs and Ian Stewart's RBI single cut
the Giants' lead to 2-1.

Lincecum then walked Omar Quintanilla to start the seventh.
After Jimenez's sacrifice bunt, Smith hit a 1-0 changeup into
the second deck in right to give Colorado a 3-2 lead.

"Balls do weird things here and a changeup was left up and cut
right back into his bat," Lincecum said. "He put a great swing
on it."

Smith said he was looking fastball but was able to stay back to
hit the changeup.

"When I hit it I knew I got it," he said.

Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 34
chances.

In the first five innings, Lincecum wasn't always sharp, but he
was effective. He walked three batters and hit another with a
pitch but allowed only one runner as far as second base.

Early, his most troublesome inning was the second when he walked
Hawpe and Chris Iannetta, but Quintanilla lined out to left to
end the inning.

Lincecum allowed three runs and three hits in seven innings. He
walked a season-high five and struck out seven.

"I was battling myself," he said. "I was erratic and all over
the place with the five walks and the hit batter. I just didn't
know what was going on out there. I had a hard time finding it,
but I still managed to get through the first five all right."

Jimenez was sharp throughout. His only hiccup came in the second
when he gave up a leadoff single to Ryan Garko and one-out homer
to Renteria that gave San Francisco a 2-0 lead.

"He made one mistake all game," Iannetta said. "He battled, he
pitched out of every situation he got in and he gave us a chance
to win."

The Giants threatened to tie it in the eighth when Eugenio Velez
led off with a double and moved to third on Randy Winn's
groundout. Jimenez got Pablo Sandoval to ground sharply to
Helton at first for the second out, then retired Bengie Molina
on a fly to left to end the inning.

"We had the right guys up," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We
get a leadoff double, we moved him over and had our 3-4 hitters
and Jimenez made some good pitches."

Jimenez gave up six hits, struck out nine and walked two. It was
the third straight game he has pitched eight innings and the
22nd consecutive start he has gone at least six.

The Rockies got an insurance run in the eighth. They loaded the
bases with one out against reliever Jeremy Affeldt and, after
Sergio Romo struck out pinch-hitter Garrett Atkins, he hit Clint
Barmes with a 1-0 pitch to force in Troy Tulowitzki.

NOTES: Colorado OF Carlos Gonzalez was not in the lineup after
sustaining a cut on his left hand. The Rockies said Gonzalez
hurt himself when he caught a steak knife as it fell off a plate
while he was putting a dish in the kitchen sink at home after
Saturday's win. He needed one stitch to close the wound. Tracy
said Gonzalez could be used as a pinch runner or defensive
replacement Monday and could return to the lineup Tuesday or
Wednesday. ... The Rockies signed RHP Russ Ortiz to a minor
league contract. ... Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez (sore left
shoulder) missed his sixth straight game and is doubtful for the
series finale.